With a portfolio of historic mansions, country houses and coaching inns dating back through the centuries, thrill-seekers can easily find ghosts and ghouls at Corus hotels during Halloween weekend on 29-31 October. More than a fifth of the group�s 60 hotels are haunted, ranging from a nun, buried alive between two walls for having an affair with a monk, to a night watchman who drank poisoned wine left out to trap a thief. Poltergeists and ghostly presences mean that bath taps and televisions that turn themselves on and off, temperatures dip unexpectedly, telephones call the switchboard from empty rooms and unidentified sightings are commonplace. The haunted hotels include a 15th century Tudor manor house that was once a school, a 17th century former coaching inn and even a modern hotel built in the 1970s. Details of the ghosts and special events over Halloween are featured below: SOUTH-EAST Larkfield Priory Hotel, London Road, nr Maidstone, ME20 6HJ Tel: 0870 609 6157 Website www.corushotels/larkfieldpriory Situated close to Maidstone, this hotel�s ghost is nicknamed Charlotte. She was apparently a servant girl, who died shortly after losing her unborn child, when the building was a manor house in the 18th century. She caused so much disturbance in the mid-1980s that the hotel manager called in a clairvoyant, who discovered Charlotte was just one of a number of spirits in the building. Apparently a gallows was once situated on the site. Halloween weekend rate - �37 B&B per person per night The George Hotel, High Street, Crawley, RH10 1BS Tel 0870 609 6129 Website www.corushotels.com/thegeorge A former night watchman who died when he drank poisoned wine left out to trap a thief is believed to haunt this former coaching inn, which dates back to 1615. No-one knows whether the watchman, who used to shirk off work and sleep in the broom cupboard, was the thief, or whether he had become thirsty. The broom cupboard is often found open after being locked and doors to the bedrooms in the old wing mysteriously open and close by themselves. Halloween weekend rate - �50 per night room only or �65 B&B per room per night WEST MIDLANDS Brownsover Hall, Brownsover Lane, Old Brownsover, Rugby, CV21 1HU Tel: 0870 609 6104 Website: www.corushotels.com/brownsoverhall A member of the Boughton-Leigh family, who had his hand severed at the time of Queen Elizabeth I, is said to haunt the site despite attempts by 12 clergymen in 1755 to exorcise it. The old library once boasted the �sign of the bloody hand� � a reddish stain on the wall that could not be removed or covered up. One-handed Boughton, as he was known, haunts the grounds, and footsteps, groans and voices can be heard coming from the empty tower. Murder Mystery Party on 29 Oct - �32.50 ticket only plus �32.50 per person B&B for accommodation. The Chace Hotel, London Road, Toll Bar End, Coventry, CV3 4EQ Tel 0870 609 6130 Website www.corushotels.com/thechace Two ghosts are regularly spotted in the old Victorian wing of this hotel. An old man in military uniform has been seen in the lounge and his ghostly colleague, a prim looking woman wearing a grey Victorian dress, has been spotted descending the main staircase and disappearing into a room off the lounge area. Murder Mystery Party on 30 Oct - �25.95 ticket only or �55 dinner, bed & breakfast per person, including tickets. Corus hotel Solihull, Stratford Road, Shirley, Solihull, B90 4EB Tel: 0870 609 6133 Website: www.corushotels.com/solihull Suite 120 is believed to be haunted by Mr Ellard, who once ran the building as a gentlemen�s club. Staff have reported that the suite, which used to be Mr Ellard�s private headquarters, seems unnaturally cold and there have been complaints that the television set turns itself on and off. The switchboard has also been rung from the suite when it has been unoccupied. Murder Mystery Party on 29 Oct - �24.95 ticket only plus �30 per person B&B based on 2 people sharing EAST MIDLANDS The West Retford Hotel, 24 North Road, East Retford, Nottinghamshire, DN22 7XG Tel 0870 609 6162 Website: www.corushotels.com/westretford This 18th century hotel plays host to the ghost of the white lady � a former mistress of the house who is alleged to have had an affair with a stable boy who was found hung in the stables, which are now bedrooms. The white lady has been spotted moving down the main stairs to the house, through the hotel and out to the stables in search of her lover. Halloween weekend rate - �65 per night room only Corus hotel Leicester, Enderby Road, Blaby, Leicester, LE8 4GD Tel 0870 609 6106 Website www.corushotels.com/leicester Although this hotel is relatively new, room 101, which used to be a doctor�s surgery is believed to be haunted. A duty manager staying there overnight returned from the bathroom one night to find the pages of the book he was reading turning on their own. A psychic has confirmed the presence of an unknown spirit. Halloween weekend rate - �49 per night room only EAST Maid�s Head Hotel, Tombland, Norwich, NR3 1LB Tel 0870 609 6110 Website www.corushotels.com/maidshead There have been a number of ghostly sightings at this 13th century hotel in Norwich�s Tombland district, including the ghost of an elderly man believed to be the former mayor of the town, who has been seen vigorously shaking his head in the courtyard. The ghost of a former maid, whose presence can be detected by a musty lavender smell, has been reported. Horror at Halloween Evening on 29 Oct - �27.50 ticket only plus �35 per person per night B&B for accommodation. NORTH The Old Golf House Hotel, New Hey Road, Outlane, Huddersfield, HD3 3YP Tel 0870 609 6128 Website: www.corushotels.com/oldgolfhouse A pair of legs have been seen at the top of the old wing staircase at this hotel, where a medium has confirmed the ghostly presence of a lady. Guests have also reported unexplained reflections in glass doors, strange drops in temperature, and the sound of footsteps and keys jingling when there has been no one else around. Halloween weekend rate - �65 per night room only Hall Garth Golf & Country Club Hotel, Coatham Mundeville, Darlington, DL1 3LU Tel: 0870 609 6131 Website: www.corushotels.com/hallgarth This 16th century hotel�s beautiful exterior hides a macabre secret from guests who stay in room two. A terrified nun was buried alive between two walls following her affair with one of the monks living at the house. In Room Two, bathroom taps are known to turn themselves on at the same time. Murder Mystery Party on 13 Nov - �24.95 ticket only plus �35 per person B&B for accommodation. Blackwell Grange Hotel, Blackwell Grange, Darlington, DL3 8QH Tel: 0870 609 6121 Website: www.corushotels.com/blackwellgrange Of all the ghosts said to haunt this hotel, none is as famous or feared as the Tartan Lady. Having plundered her Highland town, the Duke of Cumberland stole her portrait and brought it to Blackwell in 1746. Although the picture was destroyed by fire, the woman�s spirit is still believed to roam the grange and grounds, seeking revenge for the slaughter of her husband and kinsmen at Culloden. Halloween Fancy Dress Ball on 29 Oct - �19.95 ticket only / �A Night To Die For� Murder Mystery on 30 Oct - �24.95 ticket only / Halloween Sunday Family Lunch - �14.95 adults & Children �6.95 NORTH WEST Hoole Hall Hotel, Warrington Road, Hoole, Chester, Cheshire, CH2 3PD Tel: 0870 609 6126 Website www.corushotels.com/hoolehall This 18th century hotel has not one ghost, but several! The most frequent visitor is Charlie, a World War II soldier killed when the hotel was used as an army barracks. He is a prankster who rearranges cleaning products as employees conduct their duties. The stable block is haunted by two children who were killed during a fire when the hotel was a family home. Halloween weekend rate - �44 per person per night B&B SCOTLAND Corus hotel Glasgow, 377 Argyle Street, Glasgow G2 8LL Tel: 0870 609 6166 Website: www.corushotels.com/glasgow Hector, a fireman who died whilst on duty years before the hotel was built in the 1970s, is thought to be responsible for numerous strange occurrences. A chef has awoken to find Hector standing at the foot of his bed, while chambermaids have felt cold gusts of air in corridors for no apparent reason and been aware of something brushing against their faces. Halloween weekend rate - �76 B&B per room per night NOTE TO EDITORS: � Corus hotels has over 60 hotels throughout the UK, Malaysia and Australia. � Properties range from historic coaching inns and country houses, to contemporary hotels. � Corus hotels are part of the Malayan United Industries (MUI) Group, whose diverse global interests range from retailing, hotels, food, confectionery, property, construction, financial services, travel and tourism, educational services and information technology. � In the UK, The MUI Group is the major shareholder in Laura Ashley Holdings plc and The Restaurant Partnership, which includes Elena�s L�Etoile, The Gay Hussar and the Simply Nico restaurants Further media information from: Richard Davies / Nicola Johnson Banc PR - Tel: 01865 310 565 Email: richard.davies@banc.co.uk